Match Reports

Diego Godin leaps highest to head the title-winning goal for Atletico (David Ramos)

EVEN the home fans applauded when Atletico Madrid broke the nine-year
stranglehold on the Spanish title held by Real Madrid and Barcelona.
Atletico eked out the point they needed at Camp Nou despite facing the most
severe adversity early in the game.

All but a few hundred of the 99,000 crowd were home fans, but they all stood
to applaud Atletico at the final whistle, acknowledging that Diego Simeone’s
team were worthy champions. The Barcelona fans even chanted “Atleti,
Atleti.”

Atletico lost two of their most influential players, Diego Costa and Arda
Turan in the first half-hour and fell behind when Alexis Sanchez scored
towards the end of the first half. But they never lost their shape or
belief.